House of "Un"Common trades

Well, after what seems like an eternity, Matt Duchene has finally be traded, and it is the Ottawa Senators that come out as the victors! The trade led to a kind of awkward moment, when Duchene, "snuck" off the ice during Blake Comeau's injury; (Click here)

Duchene was then airlifted to Ottawa, and given the Canadian Govemental Royal Treatment. LOL Even more interesting is that the Senators next game is Friday in Stockholm, Sweeden, and their opponent will be.... The Colorado Avalanche! Isn't it ironic, don't you think? Newsflash!!!! Alanis Morrisette will be singing the opening national anthems at the game.... Kidding.

Here are the details of the trade:

To OTTAWA: (C) Matt Duchene

To NASHVILLE: (C) Kyle Turris

To COLORADO: To Colorado: OTT 1st-round pick, OTT 3rd-round pick, C Shane Bowers, G Andrew Hammond (from Ottawa); NSH 2nd-round pick, D Samuel Girard, LW Vladislav Kamenev (from Nashville).

Now the question is, was this a good trade for Ottawa. Ottawa lost a solid player in Kyle Turris, but to me, Duchene is one of the top forwards in the league. Let look at each of their numbers

Kyle Turris (28 years old)

GP 544 G 136 A 184 Pts 320 PPG 28

Matt Duchene (26 years old)

GP 585 G 178 A 250 Pts 428 PPG 39

So Matt Duchene has Turris beat in all the categories, and is younger. Interesting note, both were the 3rd overall pick of their respected drafts. (Duchene in 2009 and Turris in 2007) To me, Ottaws in the big winner here. Yes they lost alot of high draft pics (1st Rnd and 3rd round of 2018 NHL draft) as well as a young prospect in Shane Bowers. However, they didn't lose Thomas Chabot nor Colin White. So they were able to keep the nucleus of their young stars, and become a more offensive team! Winner, winner chicken dinner! That is a trade that even the Prime Minister would approved.

Whatever way you see the trade, kudos to Colorado to finally getting a trade done. Colorado got a plethora of young talent, that they can build off of. Also, a good pickup for the Nashville Predators as well. This is a deal that will help all three teams involved in the trade. The first of many big trade, surely to come this season.